New 6.9 IDI - Deciding if worth resurrecting or not

[Smafugula]

Hey everyone,

New to diesels, not new to engines. I recently acquired a 6.9 IDI 1985 F-250 4x4 4 speed. I am making this post to see what you all think of it and also to log my progress if it turns out to be worth saving on my end.

I bought it for $1200, no title unfortunately but can register in GA with no problem. The original owner was a farmer, and it passed through two hands after that before it got to me. It has a fair amount of body rust for a southern truck. I am in GA, truck came outta AL originally. The frame is great, it still carries alot of the original black paint. The original owner did something that has me worried.. he ran a hard plastic line from inside the cab to the intake for one purpose, ether. The truck had the glow plugs cut and disconnected at the fuse panel. Theres been some monkeying around there, although he did label the wires that he cut or altered..

I am worried about cracked piston rings or serious engine working needing to be done. Truck doesn't have any blow by at all which is good.

When I bought the truck it did not run. We got it going after alot of ether and patience. I threw in two new batteries and redid some fuel lines and removed the ancient electric pump with a new Facet (correct model #) electric pump. I also removed the original water separator which I believe was causing alot of the hard starting issues. It now will start cold with a sniff of ether, and no problem once block is warm. It runs and drives but smells awful (diesel fumes bad) when driving, makes your eyes water after awhile. I suspect its the IP not properly atomizing the fuel.

It now has a leaking injector pump, which I surmise will need to be rebuilt. I am trying to find a shop local to me that can do it vs trying to do a online deal. Before that, I think it would be wise of me to run a compression test.

Do anyone have any recommendations on what compression tester to get or how to go about testing? I read to use the glow plug holes. Hopefully they don't break! they probably have never been replaced. I may see if I can rent one from Autozone, etc that would be nice not having to fork out $100+ for a tester.

Anyways, if you got this far thanks for reading and let me know what your thoughts are on this rig! Also it matches my bronco, it is the reverse two tone pattern. One of the big reasons I picked it up, but also I love the 6.9 IDI and also wanted to wrench on one.

Photos are a ***** to figure out here but I am using another website to upload....

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[IDIBRONCO]

Also it matches my bronco, it is the reverse two tone pattern.

I had the same thing for a while. I called mine the twins.

I may see if I can rent one from Autozone,

I've never tried, but Autozone may not have a compression tester for diesels.

It now has a leaking injector pump, which I surmise will need to be rebuilt. I am trying to find a shop local to me that can do it vs trying to do a online deal.

There's only three widely known places for a quality rebuilt IP. Classic Diesel Designs, Moose Diesel, and R&D IDI Performance. There are a few local shops that seem to have a good reputation, but most of them are a waste of money. You'll pay them to do a job and then pay one of the better places to do it again. A lot of us, maybe even most of us, me included, have found that out the hard way.
Another thing to realize here is that, ideally, the pump and injectors should be replaced as a set since they all wear at the same rate.

I recently acquired a 6.9 IDI 1985 F-250 4x4 4 speed.

This sounds like a good truck, but in the end, only you can decide whether it's worth it or not. You can't get into one thinking that it will be a cheap diesel truck. It probably won't be real cheap. They still will be compared to a new one though. One of the biggest problems with these trucks is lack of maintenance from people who don't want to spend money on an old truck. You have to be willing to do work on these trucks. Once you've done that, they are really good trucks.
You might not be able to tell if the pistons are cracked without pulling the heads. Just keep that in mind. If you do have low compression, it may be financially beneficial to find a used, running engine and put that in.
After all of that, I still recommend that everyone gets an old vehicle like these trucks and fixes them up. In the end, you'll have a unique vehicle that nobody else has and you'll have the pride of bringing it back to life.

 

[Smafugula]

I had the same thing for a while. I called mine the twins.

I've never tried, but Autozone may not have a compression tester for diesels.

There's only three widely known places for a quality rebuilt IP. Classic Diesel Designs, Moose Diesel, and R&D IDI Performance. There are a few local shops that seem to have a good reputation, but most of them are a waste of money. You'll pay them to do a job and then pay one of the better places to do it again. A lot of us, maybe even most of us, me included, have found that out the hard way.
Another thing to realize here is that, ideally, the pump and injectors should be replaced as a set since they all wear at the same rate.

This sounds like a good truck, but in the end, only you can decide whether it's worth it or not. You can't get into one thinking that it will be a cheap diesel truck. It probably won't be real cheap. They still will be compared to a new one though. One of the biggest problems with these trucks is lack of maintenance from people who don't want to spend money on an old truck. You have to be willing to do work on these trucks. Once you've done that, they are really good trucks.
You might not be able to tell if the pistons are cracked without pulling the heads. Just keep that in mind. If you do have low compression, it may be financially beneficial to find a used, running engine and put that in.
After all of that, I still recommend that everyone gets an old vehicle like these trucks and fixes them up. In the end, you'll have a unique vehicle that nobody else has and you'll have the pride of bringing it back to life.

Thanks. There’s actually a 6.9 IDI I found at my local junkyard. Old service boom truck. That may be a good donor.

What do you think about the ether use this truck had? Is it always a guarantee that there will be issues?

 

[Olds64]

I've read that folks use ether to start these IDIs regularly. Just make sure you don't use ether AND glow plugs. One or the other, not together. It should just take a snort of ether if you're using it, no need to dousch it heavily.

I have the Horrible Freight compression tester. It works well. I think they have a cheaper one for about $50. But if you can rent one go ahead and use it and save your cash for other truck parts.

 

[ihc1470]

Did he have a cap on that line or is it open. Just thinking of all the dirt that the engine could have injested over the years if it has been open. Which side of the air filter out at the engine?

 

[Black dawg]

I wouldnt worry about the ether use. As long as it does not show a bunch of blow by, it is probably fine. I have seen starting fluid used horribly incorrectly on these with no apparent damage.

 

[Smafugula]

I wouldnt worry about the ether use. As long as it does not show a bunch of blow by, it is probably fine. I have seen starting fluid used horribly incorrectly on these with no apparent damage.

You are giving me a bit of peace. I’m still gunna do the compression test to be 100%

 

[Smafugula]

Did he have a cap on that line or is it open. Just thinking of all the dirt that the engine could have injested over the years if it has been open. Which side of the air filter out at the engine?

The “intrusion” was before the air filter so no worry of crap getting inside. It was entering through the plastic tube that connector to the filter housing

 

[Smafugula]

I've read that folks use ether to start these IDIs regularly. Just make sure you don't use ether AND glow plugs. One or the other, not together. It should just take a snort of ether if you're using it, no need to dousch it heavily.

I have the Horrible Freight compression tester. It works well. I think they have a cheaper one for about $50. But if you can rent one go ahead and use it and save your cash for other truck parts.

Yeah the guy cut the glow plugs out for sure. Probably cus the controller failed years ago and that was the easiest fix.

 

[u2slow]

Since its a manual, i would pursue the resurrection.

If you want to get glow plugs going again, IMHO wire them to basic ford starter solenoid and a manual pushbutton. That way you have the choice of starting aid.

IDI injectors dont atomize fuel. They shoot a stream of fuel into the pre-cup (also where the GP is).

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Is it always a guarantee that there will be issues?

No.

I have the Horrible Freight compression tester. It works well.

Don't you have to slightly modify the glow plug adapter on those?

Probably cus the controller failed years ago and that was the easiest fix.

The controller probably failed in the "on" position and burned the glow plugs out. That was common. Don't be surprised if you have to replace them all. Another thing, cutting the wires is STUPID. All you have to do is unplug the wiring from the top of the controller and no more issues.

 

[Smafugula]

No.

Don't you have to slightly modify the glow plug adapter on those?

The controller probably failed in the "on" position and burned the glow plugs out. That was common. Don't be surprised if you have to replace them all. Another thing, cutting the wires is STUPID. All you have to do is unplug the wiring from the top of the controller and no more issues.

Are there any wiring schematics? Theres one wire under the dash that was cut and labeled "glow plugs"

 

[Olds64]

The Horrible Freight compression gauge works fine. It has a fitting that goes in place of the glow plug.

 

[Olds64]

Also, you could check that wire and trace it. Does it go to the glow plug controller on the back of the driver's head, or does it go to the glow plug relay behind the passenger's side battery?

Sorry, didn't think to just "Edit" the post first.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Are there any wiring schematics?

Yes. I don't have any though. All I did for manual glow plug on my first 1985 was to unplug the controller. Then I ran a powered wire through a push button and to the purple wire on the glow plug relay that's on the passenger's side fenderwell. It looks similar to the starter solenoid on the fender. My current 1985 already had a manual control for the glow plugs when I bought it. Not only is the controller wiring not plugged in, the 7.3 that I have in it now has a plug in the port on the head so there's no controller at all. The wiring just hangs there close to the firewall.